 about
us |
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
1.
Into which languages do you translate?
We offer translation services for over 42 different languages, from Arabic to Zulu. There are specific languages that occupy our time more than others: Spanish (South American, Mexican and Castilian), Brazilian Portuguese, French (Canadian and Parisian), other European languages (Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Russian, etc), and Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, Thai Vietnamese, Korean, etc).
2. How do you estimate the cost of a potential project?
The cost of a project is directly related to its size, subject material and target language. Cost is determined by a word count. The more words a project contains, the less expensive the cost each translated word becomes. The easiest way to find out how much a project of yours will cost to translate is to submit it for a free quotation. We will provide you with a detailed account of the charges, turnaround time and how you will receive your project back. If the quotation does not seem reasonable to you, we may review it together in an effort to come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
3. Do you specialize in any particular field or type of project?
Majority of our translation jobs are on technical material and legal documents. We also receive many different types of projects to translate and typeset: brochures, instruction and service manuals, product catalogues, spec sheets, newsletters and education.
4. What is your typical turnaround time?
Turnaround time is directly related to the material's subject and the amount of words that the project contains. A project that requires research on the translator's part because of the technical specific nature of the material will take longer to complete than the translation of general material. For word counts of 3,000 or less we generally allow three days time for translation. A word count of 10,000 is typically completed in seven days or less. This information is specific to the translation turnaround time and does not include the process time for additional steps such as desktop publishing and printing. In certain cases where the translations are needed urgently, we will mobilize our resources to cater to the request.
5. In what form will you deliver my translation?
Usually our clients provide the English version of their project on a particular format, either Macintosh or PC. We have the capabilities to work in a wide variety of word processing and design programs: Microsoft WordR, WordPerfectR, QuarkXPress?, Adobe PageMakerR, Adobe InDesign?, Adobe FrameMaker?, Adobe IllustratorR, etc. Send us your files on zip disks, optical disks, or CDs or through email attachments or upload to our FTP site. The final product is returned to the customer according to their specifications.
6. What kind of experience do your translators have in my field?
We choose our translators according to the targeted language (usually their native language, depending on the project), their expertise in the project's subject and their ability to return the project in a timely fashion. Each translator specializes in a particular field of translation and receives projects according to their specialized area of knowledge, which ensures the accuracy and quality of the translation. A project manager who checks the translation for consistency and verifies that the translation is complete then reviews the project. Additionally, we encourage our clients' distributors to proofread their projects and we will implement their changes at no extra cost.
7. What if my distributor disagrees with your translation?
A review phase by your distributor is permitted and encouraged upon the submission of your initial translation proof. The amount of time needed for review is established between the project manager and the client and changes that the distributor requests are implemented free of charge. It is our experience that most changes requested by distributors are stylistic in nature and has little to do with the quality of the translation. If the clients' distributors request changes that are erroneous, our translators will provide a detailed explanation so that the client may understand the differences in meaning. Ultimately, it is the clients' decision whether or not to implement the changes.
8. Are you able to provide translation samples?
Certainly. We may provide text sample translations and references from our present clients who are relevant to your field of interest or we may provide you with a minimum translation of your own material. Please call at any of our respective offices worldwide to make the necessary arrangements.
9. Will your company sign our confidentiality agreement?
Yes. We willingly enter into contracts that define information that is confidential and outlines the manner in which a client would like such information handled. As a standard, a client's information is only exposed to translators and staff on a need-to-know basis and this information is separated at all times from the material of others so as to prevent any commingling. The YAMAGATA Group will gladly return any confidential information received for the production of the project upon completion or at any other time requested by the client.
10. Can you certify my translation?
Our translators may certify their translations to the best of their knowledge and provide you with a copy of such a document.
11. How may I reduce my translation costs?
Our consultants and project managers will gladly assess your content for translation using our content management solutions and recommend a way to reduce the translation costs.
12. Are there translation requirements established by other countries?
The rules and regulations vary from country to country and are industry specific. For example, some countries mandate that the foreign version be equal to that of the English in word, presentation and type size. Such information is best received directly from the government of the country you wish to export to. Additional information may be retrieved at no cost over the Internet and at your public library.
13. When should I consider translating my company's information?
Translation of your information should be an integral part of your company's exports marketing strategy. Translation improves business relations and eliminates confusion. In addition, translation of your company's material proves your commitment to developing a long-term relationship with international customers. While there is no specific time that a company must translate their information, a good time to begin is when your English versions are complete and updated. Your translated version will need to be prepared before you send your equipment/products abroad or across the border, so allow for the time and resources to accomplish this.
14. What are the advantages of having The YAMAGATA Group handle my translation projects?
The YAMAGATA Group invests a large amount of time and money in maintaining a quality network of interpreters, translators, proofreaders and desktop publishers in order to assemble teams for each project. With these tools, the YAMAGATA Group is able to readily assign a project according to the specialization that your company's literature calls for. The orchestration of the many job tasks that are involved in the production of translation projects is time-consuming and dependent on the experienced management of people who supervise each project through the phases of writing, translation, editing, proofreading, typesetting, review and presentation. Most companies do not have the budget or the time to perform these services internally.
15. How may I make the localization of my software a smoother process?
There are certain procedures and guidelines that we follow to ensure the localization is done without any problems. Our consultants and project managers will gladly provide the necessary procedures and guidelines during the discussion and assessment of the project.
16. What are the advantages of having a multilingual Web site?
Inherent in the concept of the World Wide Web is the notion that it reaches around the world and back again, enabling all people to access information by the simple click of a button. Every company that has a Web address receives global exposure and many are starting to acknowledge this by internationalizing their Web sites. Translation of a company's Web site is the key to the door of market expansion and lends an edge over the competition (or, at this point, perhaps prevents you from falling behind your web- savvy competition). Prospective customers not only receive instant information about your company but also a heightened awareness and understanding of your products and/or services. In addition, internationalization of Web sites improves customer satisfaction and service, solidifying your place in the global market.
17. How can the YAMAGATA Group improve my company's product with better technical documentation?
We view our service as a value-added part of your product. Our extensive experience, wide array of printed and electronic deliverables, and flexible pricing make it easy for us to add value to your product.
18. How can the YAMAGATA Group save my company money on technical documentation?
One way is by using your existing engineering documents, product specifications, and marketing materials, we minimize time spent with your SMEs. We also save you time and money by employing our experience in creating a broad range of publications for many types of clients over the years.
Our flexible services allow you to have anything from a one-page Instruction Sheet to a complete Service Manual. This allows you to have as much or as little documentation as your project budget will allow.
We also use our expertise to analyze your existing documentation and recommend a solution to create a much concise and user-centered manual.
And because we conduct most of our business off-site through the Internet, you are not burdened with the cost of desk space, dedicated computers, or network access usage. We are proud of our efficiency to "surgically extract" source material from clients. We "work in the background" with minimum interruptions.
19. How can the YAMAGATA Group offer documentation at a fixed price?
When we use our fixed price strategy and menu type options list, you select and customize only the services that you need. Because we estimate carefully, we are able to calculate the price of many projects in advance.
20. What makes the YAMAGATA Group qualified to produce outstanding technical documentation?
Because of our broad knowledge of computer software and because we employ writers with significant experience in several engineering disciplines, we make it easy (translates as quicker) to document your product. Using various usability test techniques, we measure the usability of the contents we have created for your product. The immediate result of usability testing is a list of specific and general recommendations for improving the software/hardware, documentation, training and/or other collateral materials provided to end users. We pride ourselves on producing draft copy that is already a "coherent document" ready to be reviewed by your staff.
We offer translation services for over 42 different languages, from Arabic to Zulu. There are specific languages that occupy our time more than others: Spanish (South American, Mexican and Castilian), Brazilian Portuguese, French (Canadian and Parisian), other European languages (Portuguese, German, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Russian, etc), and Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese, Thai Vietnamese, Korean, etc).
2. How do you estimate the cost of a potential project?
The cost of a project is directly related to its size, subject material and target language. Cost is determined by a word count. The more words a project contains, the less expensive the cost each translated word becomes. The easiest way to find out how much a project of yours will cost to translate is to submit it for a free quotation. We will provide you with a detailed account of the charges, turnaround time and how you will receive your project back. If the quotation does not seem reasonable to you, we may review it together in an effort to come to a mutually beneficial agreement.
3. Do you specialize in any particular field or type of project?
Majority of our translation jobs are on technical material and legal documents. We also receive many different types of projects to translate and typeset: brochures, instruction and service manuals, product catalogues, spec sheets, newsletters and education.
4. What is your typical turnaround time?
Turnaround time is directly related to the material's subject and the amount of words that the project contains. A project that requires research on the translator's part because of the technical specific nature of the material will take longer to complete than the translation of general material. For word counts of 3,000 or less we generally allow three days time for translation. A word count of 10,000 is typically completed in seven days or less. This information is specific to the translation turnaround time and does not include the process time for additional steps such as desktop publishing and printing. In certain cases where the translations are needed urgently, we will mobilize our resources to cater to the request.
5. In what form will you deliver my translation?
Usually our clients provide the English version of their project on a particular format, either Macintosh or PC. We have the capabilities to work in a wide variety of word processing and design programs: Microsoft WordR, WordPerfectR, QuarkXPress?, Adobe PageMakerR, Adobe InDesign?, Adobe FrameMaker?, Adobe IllustratorR, etc. Send us your files on zip disks, optical disks, or CDs or through email attachments or upload to our FTP site. The final product is returned to the customer according to their specifications.
6. What kind of experience do your translators have in my field?
We choose our translators according to the targeted language (usually their native language, depending on the project), their expertise in the project's subject and their ability to return the project in a timely fashion. Each translator specializes in a particular field of translation and receives projects according to their specialized area of knowledge, which ensures the accuracy and quality of the translation. A project manager who checks the translation for consistency and verifies that the translation is complete then reviews the project. Additionally, we encourage our clients' distributors to proofread their projects and we will implement their changes at no extra cost.
7. What if my distributor disagrees with your translation?
A review phase by your distributor is permitted and encouraged upon the submission of your initial translation proof. The amount of time needed for review is established between the project manager and the client and changes that the distributor requests are implemented free of charge. It is our experience that most changes requested by distributors are stylistic in nature and has little to do with the quality of the translation. If the clients' distributors request changes that are erroneous, our translators will provide a detailed explanation so that the client may understand the differences in meaning. Ultimately, it is the clients' decision whether or not to implement the changes.
8. Are you able to provide translation samples?
Certainly. We may provide text sample translations and references from our present clients who are relevant to your field of interest or we may provide you with a minimum translation of your own material. Please call at any of our respective offices worldwide to make the necessary arrangements.
9. Will your company sign our confidentiality agreement?
Yes. We willingly enter into contracts that define information that is confidential and outlines the manner in which a client would like such information handled. As a standard, a client's information is only exposed to translators and staff on a need-to-know basis and this information is separated at all times from the material of others so as to prevent any commingling. The YAMAGATA Group will gladly return any confidential information received for the production of the project upon completion or at any other time requested by the client.
10. Can you certify my translation?
Our translators may certify their translations to the best of their knowledge and provide you with a copy of such a document.
11. How may I reduce my translation costs?
Our consultants and project managers will gladly assess your content for translation using our content management solutions and recommend a way to reduce the translation costs.
12. Are there translation requirements established by other countries?
The rules and regulations vary from country to country and are industry specific. For example, some countries mandate that the foreign version be equal to that of the English in word, presentation and type size. Such information is best received directly from the government of the country you wish to export to. Additional information may be retrieved at no cost over the Internet and at your public library.
13. When should I consider translating my company's information?
Translation of your information should be an integral part of your company's exports marketing strategy. Translation improves business relations and eliminates confusion. In addition, translation of your company's material proves your commitment to developing a long-term relationship with international customers. While there is no specific time that a company must translate their information, a good time to begin is when your English versions are complete and updated. Your translated version will need to be prepared before you send your equipment/products abroad or across the border, so allow for the time and resources to accomplish this.
14. What are the advantages of having The YAMAGATA Group handle my translation projects?
The YAMAGATA Group invests a large amount of time and money in maintaining a quality network of interpreters, translators, proofreaders and desktop publishers in order to assemble teams for each project. With these tools, the YAMAGATA Group is able to readily assign a project according to the specialization that your company's literature calls for. The orchestration of the many job tasks that are involved in the production of translation projects is time-consuming and dependent on the experienced management of people who supervise each project through the phases of writing, translation, editing, proofreading, typesetting, review and presentation. Most companies do not have the budget or the time to perform these services internally.
15. How may I make the localization of my software a smoother process?
There are certain procedures and guidelines that we follow to ensure the localization is done without any problems. Our consultants and project managers will gladly provide the necessary procedures and guidelines during the discussion and assessment of the project.
16. What are the advantages of having a multilingual Web site?
Inherent in the concept of the World Wide Web is the notion that it reaches around the world and back again, enabling all people to access information by the simple click of a button. Every company that has a Web address receives global exposure and many are starting to acknowledge this by internationalizing their Web sites. Translation of a company's Web site is the key to the door of market expansion and lends an edge over the competition (or, at this point, perhaps prevents you from falling behind your web- savvy competition). Prospective customers not only receive instant information about your company but also a heightened awareness and understanding of your products and/or services. In addition, internationalization of Web sites improves customer satisfaction and service, solidifying your place in the global market.
17. How can the YAMAGATA Group improve my company's product with better technical documentation?
We view our service as a value-added part of your product. Our extensive experience, wide array of printed and electronic deliverables, and flexible pricing make it easy for us to add value to your product.
18. How can the YAMAGATA Group save my company money on technical documentation?
One way is by using your existing engineering documents, product specifications, and marketing materials, we minimize time spent with your SMEs. We also save you time and money by employing our experience in creating a broad range of publications for many types of clients over the years.
Our flexible services allow you to have anything from a one-page Instruction Sheet to a complete Service Manual. This allows you to have as much or as little documentation as your project budget will allow.
We also use our expertise to analyze your existing documentation and recommend a solution to create a much concise and user-centered manual.
And because we conduct most of our business off-site through the Internet, you are not burdened with the cost of desk space, dedicated computers, or network access usage. We are proud of our efficiency to "surgically extract" source material from clients. We "work in the background" with minimum interruptions.
19. How can the YAMAGATA Group offer documentation at a fixed price?
When we use our fixed price strategy and menu type options list, you select and customize only the services that you need. Because we estimate carefully, we are able to calculate the price of many projects in advance.
20. What makes the YAMAGATA Group qualified to produce outstanding technical documentation?
Because of our broad knowledge of computer software and because we employ writers with significant experience in several engineering disciplines, we make it easy (translates as quicker) to document your product. Using various usability test techniques, we measure the usability of the contents we have created for your product. The immediate result of usability testing is a list of specific and general recommendations for improving the software/hardware, documentation, training and/or other collateral materials provided to end users. We pride ourselves on producing draft copy that is already a "coherent document" ready to be reviewed by your staff.
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